25 March 2007  Freedom Day

Are you still wearing your
chains? A number of corps have already had a chance to talk about why they are
wearing them. On 25th March 1807, in the House of Lords, Lord Grenville
successfully argued that the salve trade was contrary to the principles
of justice, humanity, and sound policy. The Abolition of the Slave Trade
Act was passed on that day, though it was not until 1833 that it came fully
into force across the British Empire.

Nearly 200 years later on the
23rd April 2006 the United Nations stated that efforts to fight the
global problem of human trafficking were being hampered because no-one
knows exactly how many people are being sold into modern-day slavery, though
127 countries (mainly in Africa and Eastern Europe) are sending new slaves to
at least 137 countries around the world. William

Wilberforce and his
evangelical contemporaries desired to see all people living in freedom. But
slavery was big business 200 years ago and still is today. Steve Chalke set up
the Stop the Traffick campaign to heighten awareness of 21st
century slavery and aims to build up a global coalition of faith groups,
schools, charities, community groups, clubs and businesses who will support
those already involved in this work. Richard Branson, Daniel Bedingfield, Anita
Roddick and William Hague are among the celebrities supporting Stop the
Traffick.

Freedom Day on 25th March 2007 is our time to challenge the
world to Remember, Reflect and Respond so that this abuse of millions of people
world wide can come to an end. Events will be held across the world on
Freedom Day, Its not so much a celebration of history
as a drawing of inspiration from the champions of the past for the challenge of
the future as we fight for freedom from the bondage of traffiking for every
human being. - Steve Chalk. Additionally millions of signatures are being
collected around the world as part of the Stop the Traffick Declaration, which
will be presented to the Secretary General of the United Nations.